Think back to your last semester at Thunderbird. Imagine you've already taken your major focus area class like Corporate Finance or Business Intelligence and now, instead of finishing up with a few more campus-based electives, you board a plane. You form a crack consulting team with some of your most trusted classmates - each team member brings years of experience and a unique skillset to create a whole, greater than the sum of its parts. You fly to an exotic locale where the climate steams and the economic opportunities sizzle - bubbling over into the crowded streets. Your team takes on a tough client and an even tougher project; how do you manage a stakeholder group including both private industry and a Communist government? How do you tell a patriarchal leader in Africa that he needs to push power down into his organization? How do you tell the leaders of a social enterprise headquartered in the former dictator's palace that they won't have enough cash to make payroll in six months?

Your past experiences and your two years of global education at Thunderbird begin to crystallize. Classroom lessons get remembered and put into action. All of a sudden you are negotiating project scope in indigenous languages through translators. You are meeting with scientists to understand a new technology and prepare a market entry strategy. You are creating robust financial models, kneeling in the dirt with farmers to understand their cost structure. Or you are spending countless hours in meetings with your client, the government minister, enduring the realities and vagaries of "client resistance."

Professor Mathis to hold Webinar on global economy
Please join us live in the Thunderbird studio at 10 a.m. Pacific time on Wednesday Sept. 14 for a timely and interactive webinar with Professor F. John Mathis entitled "Market Volatility, Growing Recession Concerns, Global Vulnerability: Can We Ever Retire?"

What global business topics matter to you? We have it covered.
You have likely heard about the inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue, but have you taken a look of the extensive speaker list or diverse panel topics?

Topics range from "Challenges of Global Leadership" to "Financial Solutions for Global Growth." Join us for this event to learn about the impact different cultures make on business and the challenges and opportunities ahead in emerging economies.

Is sustainability your calling? Interact first-hand with people who have translated sustainable business ideas into successful ventures. Or perhaps you're interested in branding, the impact of social media or private equity. Maybe it's energy issues that top your business list or simply how to better manage your family-owned business. This event will address some of today's most pressing questions.

Take a look at our detailed agenda. And don't forget to check out the presenting speakers list where you'll find CEOs and C-suite leaders from brands such as Intel, BP, Google, OPIC, Burson-Marsteller, Target, Bank of America, Netflix, McDonalds, Wells Fargo Bank and many more.

Alumni who attend in groups of five or more can save 25 percent off an already special alumni rate. To register a group, call Alumni Relations Director Terri Nissen at 602-978-7359.

And don't forget to sign up for Homecoming events and the Tower Celebration, which follow the Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue. To see a list of your classmates who are attending, go here.

Expand your professional network
Looking to expand your professional network? A great first step is to check out the Professional Network app in Global Connect. Think of it as Thunderbird's own private LinkedIn, but with even more interactive capabilities. Designed to be an exclusive community for Thunderbird alumni and students to connect and develop relationships, Professional Network offers a streamlined database rich with contacts to help propel your career forward.

The CMC has listened to your feedback and knows you want more options to connect with Thunderbird. We also know you want to be a resource for the next generation of global leaders. You want to share your hard-earned wisdom, and be valued for the insight and knowledge that you've acquired. GlobalConnect's Professional Network is the bridge that will aid you in connecting not only with your fellow alumni, but with the leaders of tomorrow and enable you to share that wealth of knowledge with them.

With the ability to filter searches by industry, job title, graduation date, academic concentration and location, Professional Network allows you to target your networking with a high degree of precision. Better still, you're in control when it comes to deciding how frequently and to what extent you want to engage with your network.

Getting started is easy. Just log on to GlobalConnect and look for "Professional Network" on the left side. One click and you're instantly connected with Thunderbirds from across the globe.

Already have a profile? Now is a great time to sweep the dust off of it and update your information. And if you haven't been by in a while, we've made some exciting changes, so come check it out! You never know who you might meet. For questions contact Career Management Center Alumni Liaison Mike Kennard at mike.kennard@thunderbird.edu.

Bosch and Alfa Fellowship Programs info session
Learn more about the Bosch and Alfa Fellowship Programs, which offer opportunities for professional development programs in Germany or Russia. Thunderbird will hold an information session 1 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Herberger Building Barrett Honor Council Rooms 1-2-3 on campus.

The Robert Bosch Foundation and Alfa Fellowship Programs are distinguished international initiatives that each year offer accomplished young Americans the opportunity to complete high-level professional development programs in either Germany (Bosch) or Russia (Alfa).

Over the course of these programs, fellows complete work phases at leading institutions, attend professional seminars and receive intensive language training. Fellows are recruited from the fields of business, journalism, law, public policy, and other closely related fields. The fellowships provide monthly stipends, health insurance, all program-related travel costs, language training in Germany or Russia, and private tutoring in the United States on an as-needed basis. German and Russian language proficiency is not required at the time of application. Key goals of the Bosch and Alfa Fellowship Programs are to expand the networks of American and German/Russian professionals, develop greater intercultural understanding, and advance U.S. and German/Russian relations.

The application deadline for The Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship is Oct. 15; the Alfa Fellowship's deadline is Dec. 1 each year. Please visit our websites to find out about eligibility requirements and to learn more: www.cdsintl.org/bosch and www.cdsintl.org/alfa.

Harris Connect to create Alumni Directory
The Alumni Relations office has received a number of questions regarding the legitimacy of a new Alumni Directory. Due to a number of requests from our alumni, we are working with Harris Connect to create a hardcopy and CD version alumni directory that will be available spring 2012. This is a legitimate company and we will need the help of our alumni to create the directory.

Please note: Purchasing the directory is optional and you do not have to buy anything. Over the next several months, Harris Connect will contact each of you by e-mail, post cards and phone to gather information. We ask that you take a moment to share your information, so that the directory will be current once it is published. The last alumni directory that Thunderbird created was published in 1996.

Add more T-birds to your office
Share this with your HR or recruiting team today: Thunderbird's Professional Development Week is Oct. 24-28, including the Fall Career Fair, which is Oct. 26-28.

Monday and Tuesday: Students will attend professional development workshops to gain skills in a variety of functions. Networking events are available for sponsorship.

Wednesday: Build your brand and increase student awareness of your organization by giving a company presentation.

Thursday: Register your company for a booth at the Fall Career Fair and gain immediate access to all current Thunderbird students.

Friday: Reserve a room for holding on-campus interviews with the top talent you've met throughout the week.

A chance to help small businesses grow
Thunderbird School of Global Management's Thunderbird for Good has partnered with MicroMentor, an online service that connects small business owners with volunteer business mentors.

The mission of MicroMentor is to help small businesses grow faster, generate more revenue and employ more people. The program is a good fit for Thunderbird's mission of creating sustainable prosperity worldwide. MicroMentor makes it easy to be a mentor, find a mentor and build a business.

Register here and follow the links to join the organization and create a profile. Mentor profiles describe the mentors' strengths and expertise, while entrepreneur profiles describe the entrepreneurs' business and goals

Thunderbird Online offers new course and Web site
Thunderbird Online has a brand new Web site designed with you in mind! The new Web site allows for increased functionality and additional single course and full certificate information. The new site also allows you to see the Thunderbird Learning Environment in action through a video demonstration and read recent student testimonials.

As a Thunderbird alumnus/alumna, you automatically receive 50 percent off your enrollment of any online course or certificate! Upon registration, indicate that you are a T-bird graduate, and your graduation year to receive your discount.

September 2: Seoul Chapter is holding a First Friday at Grand Ambassador's GRAN-A bar on the first floor, more information here

September 6: Lima Chapter is holding a First Tuesday event for networking, more information here

September 15: Chicago Chapter is holding the CTAA 40+ dinner at Naveen's Cuisine, more information here

Calendar

September 21: Bosch & Alfa Fellowship Programs Info Session at 1 p.m. on campus, room 123 Herberger building. Learn more about the Bosch and Alfa Fellowship Programs, which offer opportunities for professional development programs in Germany or Russia.

September 29: Greg Q. Brown President and CEO Motorola Solutions, Inc., will speak on campus from 1:10 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. Arizona time, more information here

October 4: Houston Professional Speaker Series. Join T-bird thought leaders on the University of Houston campus as they discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing business in China and competing with China, more information here

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